The Information Services Department (ISD) is taking part in this year's Hong Kong Book Fair from today (July 17) to July 23 under the theme "The Joy of Reading Comes Naturally".
 
     More than 70 government titles are on sale at the fair, with most of them being sold at discounts of 25 per cent or below. A number of specially priced books are also on sale including the "Hong Kong Culture Snapshot" series (Chinese version only) and "The Temple Gardens of Hong Kong", with discounts ranging from 60 to 85 per cent.
 
     A book entitled "Climate Change and Biodiversity in Hong Kong" jointly published by the Hong Kong Observatory and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department earlier this year is also on sale at the fair. Presenting the concept of climate change and its impacts on biodiversity through beautiful photos and simple messages, the publication aims to raise public awareness on climate change issues and promote concrete actions to mitigate climate change and to conserve biodiversity.
 
     Customers buying publications at the ISD booth may pay in cash or with Octopus, and will receive a souvenir in return.
 
     To help save the environment, plastic bags will not be handed out at the booth. Purchasers are asked to bring their own carry bag.
 
     The ISD booth is located at Stall D38 in Hall 1A of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

          

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 17) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza B infection, and reminded members of the public who have not yet received a seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season that they can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza.
 
     The case involves an 8-year-old boy with underlying illnesses, who has presented with fever and convulsion since July 14. He was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department at Caritas Medical Centre for medical attention on July 15 and was admitted on the same day. He was subsequently transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further management yesterday (July 16).
 
     His respiratory specimen tested positive for influenza B virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza B infection complicated with encephalopathy. He is now in serious condition.
 
     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had not received seasonal influenza vaccination for the current season and had no travel history during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far.
 
     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
 
     "The latest surveillance data showed that the local seasonal influenza activity in the past few weeks was higher than that in early May. Members of the public aged 6 months or above (except those with known contraindications) who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "Meanwhile, the public should continue to adopt strict personal, hand and environmental hygiene practices against respiratory illnesses and other infectious diseases," the spokesman added.
 
     The public may visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express for more information.

A woman who went missing in Kwai Chung was located.

Pang Chui-ying, aged 31, went missing after she left a rehabilitation centre on Wo Yi Hop Road on July 14 afternoon. Staff of the centre made a report to Police in the small hours of July 15.

The woman returned to her rehabilitation centre on July 15 evening. She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 17) for people in need of the service.
 
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
 
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
 
     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate
Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 20 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For addresses of the community centres or community halls, please browse the following webpage: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     Mobile Library 10 will suspend services from tomorrow (July 18) to July 24 for urgent repair works, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 17).
 
     The affected service points are Lung Mun Oasis and Gold Coast in Tuen Mun, Kwai Chung Estate in Kwai Chung, Tin Shui Estate and Tin Yuet Estate in Tin Shui Wai, Fung Cheung Road and Hung Shui Kiu in Yuen Long and Hoi Lai Estate in Sham Shui Po. For enquiries about Mobile Library 10 services, please call 2450 1857.
 
     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension period. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.